Players hit the ice for "purest form of hockey" during second annual Lake Fenton Winter Classic

FENTON TOWNSHIP, MI -- On the same weekend that the NHL began a strike-shortened season, more than 280 regional hockey players came to Barnum Lake to play some hockey, too.

For players such as Flint resident Andrew Kirby, the reasons why his pond hockey team came to the lake were much simpler.

“This is the purest form of hockey, this is what it’s all about right here,” Kirby said. “This is just guys getting out and having a good time and playing for the love of the game, not for arenas or stadiums or any of that stuff.”

Kirby and his team -- the Broome Park Brawlers -- were part of the 2013 Lake Fenton Winter Classic, an annual pond hockey tournament held from Jan 19-20 on the Fenton lake.

Throughout the weekend, teams of seven players competed in four-on-four hockey matches spread between five hockey rings on the lake's surface.

The Winter Classic began in 2012 after organizer Sean Lapham and a friend wanted to start a tournament in Genesee County. Lapham credited much of the tournament’s success to its homegrown roots and the nostalgia of outdoor hockey.

“This is how hockey started and this is a grassroots (event) and this is what everybody loves,” Lapham said. "I mean, it takes us all back to being a kid, just having fun.”

Registered teams included players who traveled from Canada and North Dakota. According to Lapham, team rosters also ranged from former professional players to first-time tournament competitors.

Freeland resident Carol Puchacz came out to watch her son and daughter play in the Winter Classic. Although her kids lost several close games, Puchacz said that everyone on the lake still enjoyed themselves.

“It looks like it’s a lot of fun out there,” Puchacz said. “(It’s) well organized, and some of these skaters have been here before -- you can tell they’re pretty skilled.”

During the weekend, unpredictable temperatures caused several tournament interruptions.

Warm weather on Saturday forced some games to be postponed and high winds blew down a tent on Sunday where players could warm up.

Still, players such as Kirby are already looking forward to 2014’s Winter Classic.

“Everybody had a great time -- even when we lost, we had a good time,” Kirby said. “I’m really happy this is here, I hope it’s even bigger and better next year.”